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19th June 2013- we had a rough night sailing from santa cruz across to Isabela island. woke up every few hours due to the motion of the boat. After breakfast we took the dingy into the small port city of pto. Villamil. We then got on a bus and drove inland to a salt lake that had a few dozen flamingos. Was great to see the bright pink birds standing and flying around. then it was back on the bus and we visited the islands tortities breeding centre. This breeding centre had hundreds animals from all ages. We got to hold a baby turtle.. It was so small and light only two months old, was amazing to think how big they grow over the next 100 years. They had a population that were rescused from the nearby volcano in 1998 when it erupted and kill all but 18 adults. They have been able to breed over 200 babies from these 18 and hope to start releasing back into the wild soon. We then drove over to an old prison site . During the WW2 the USA built a base on the island and after the war when it was abandon the Ecuador government used it as a prison and had the prisons built a stone wall, 100 meters long and 6 m tall. Many of the men died and it was closed in 1959. It was then time to go back to the jetty and take the dingy back on board for lunch and siesta. This afternoon we went snorkeling in a small inlet not far from the main jetty Villamil. It was nice to finally have some sunny weather and we were able to see rays and sea turtle and fish and coral and of course the sea lions were there front and centre. They are such an inquisitive animal always swimming up to you just to see what is happening and who you are and then they want to play. They seem to spend all there time either playing or sleeping. they are such a relaxed and happy animal that always wants to be the centre of attention. Then walked along the beach and meet up with the rest of the people from the boat. Sat around and changed out of the wetsuit before walking the hour to the end of the beach. Was great to just walk along on the waters edge with the sunny weather and see all the animals. There are crabs of all different types. Marine iguanas move from the water to the shrubs. Fish dart and jump. When back to the group meeting point we had enough time to sit and watch the sunset over this amazingly unique environment. back to the jetty and then dingy into the harbor and back in boat for dinner. After dinner we set sail around the southern tip of isabela island. It was really rough sailing and went to bed early to try and sleep through it.
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